Tunchev ready for training pitch

Leicester centre back Aleksander Tunchev is ready to step up training once again following his troubled knee injury.

The Bulgarian international has been sidelined for the best part of almost two years after several setbacks to a host of frustrating knee issues.

But Foxes chief Sven-Goran Eriksson revealed that the 29-year-old will return to the training pitch soon.

"Tunchev has done a lot of work in the gym but we will see. He has to train on the pitch soon before we consider a reserve game and take it from there," he said.

Tunchev's first serious injury arrived in January 2009 during Leicester's FA Cup replay defeat at Selhurst Park when he tore a cruciate ligament in his right knee.

After returning to pre-season training that summer, the centre back started in City's League Cup match at Preston but suffered yet another knee injury, this time on his left side.

An operation on the troublesome right knee which had not properly recovered followed, before he eventually travelled to Barcelona to visit a specialist after a succession of setbacks during the rehabilitation.

Injections were used in attempts to prevent yet another operation, but in March this year he was ruled out for another six months after going under the knife once again.

But despite his troubles, Tunchev now finally looks set to make the next step in his recovery with a return to Belvoir Drive.

A popular figure among the City faithful, talk surrounding his future in the game has been rife, but signs look promising that Leicester will have their man back in the New Year.